Pire extinguishing apparatus



y 1934. E. TYDEN 1,958,286

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1932 Iv yer/@251 2722/11.? (fem as 14 0272 g6.

Patented lllay 8, i934- rs r Application .iune 20,

7 Glaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for protecting buildings against fire, and is particularly directed to the purpose of bringin an open head system into operation by venting the pressure by wine the water control valve is normally held seated, such venting being efiected by temperature-responsive devices exposed in the protected area; and, specifically, the invention is directed to the purpose of bringing an open head system, included in the protective apparatus, into operation by the venting of the pressure in a cooperating closed head system, by the opening of a closed head of the latter system. The invention further includes means for bringing the open head system into operation by venting the pressure by which the wate '"controllin valve is normally held seated, such venting being effected by temperature-responsive means other than the closed heads of the closed head system.

The invention consists in the elements features of construction shown and described and as indicated in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a the protective apparatus embodying this invention, the diagram being made, in general, without distinc tion between vertical and horizontal extent of the .diiierent parts of the apparatus thus diagrammed.

Figure 2 is a s' 'lar view of a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the operating parts and elements of the construction being shown on sunlcient scale to permit showing them in detail, in section, or elevation.

Figure 3 is a detail section at the line 3--3 on Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail section at the line 4-4 on Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail: A main water supply pipe is indicated at is having a shut-01f valve, 11, leading to a main valve member, A, which, as shown in Figure 1, may be understood as being of the type commonly known as an alarm valve, this alarm valve having connected to its main discharge a main delivery pipe, 12, leading to the closed head system indicated at B, with a 13, leading to a control valve device indicated at D. This control valve device has an inlet indicated at :1 and two discharge limbs from one of which, indicated at d a pipe line, 1%, is shown leading to the open head system indicated at C. From the other discharge limb of the control valve device, D, indicated at d a pipe connection shown at to a device commonly known as a system-connecting valve, but hereinafter referred to as the vent control indi- 1932, Serial No. 618,091

cated as to its entirety by reference character, E. At any point in the water delivery line to the closed heads, as from the main water delivery line, 12, as shown in Figure 2, or from any convenient point in the closed head pipe system, as shown in Fig ure 1, a relatively slender pipe line, 16, leads for connection to the vent control device, E, to which said line, 16, is connected, as seen at 17. Also, from what is commonly referred to as the alarm connection of the alarm valve, A, a slender pipe line, 18, which leads to the customary alarm, as indicated at the broken end of said pipe, and is branched as shown at 18 to lead for connection to the vent control member, E, to which said line, i8, is connected at 17, tl us making the two lines, 16 and is, continuous with each other. In the line, 16, there is interposed a thermostatically operated flow controlling valve device indicated in entirety at F, with the thermostatic device by which it is operated for said control indicated at G. In the pipe line, 13, there is interposed before its connection with the control valve device, 1), a ShLlt-Qff valve, H, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The control valve device, D, may be further described in detail as consisting of a chambered valve body member denoted by reference numeral, 20, with its chamber denoted by numeral, 21. This body member has an inlet port, indicated at 22, and two outlet ports, 23 and 24, the outlet port, 23, being at the same side of the chamber as the inlet port, and at that side of the chamher there is pivotally mounted an inlet controlling valve, 25, which has lever arm, 26, extending away from the side of the inlet valve opposite its pivot for carrying an outlet controlling valve, 27, seating at the outlet port, 23. For a purpose hereinafter explained, the inlet valve, 25, and the outletvalve, 27, are associated with each other and with their pivot-in-common, viz, the pivot, 28, of the inlet valve,-for slight range of lost motion betwen the two valves in their opening and closing movement. This lost motion is provided by two expedients, either of which may suiiice for the purpose, and both of which may cooperate for the purpose. The first of these exedients consists in mounting the inlet valve loosely on its pivot, 28, as indicated at 29, so that, as more fully hereinafter explained, the pressure of the water admitted slowly will lift the inlet valve from its seat at the side toward the pivot for a distance measured by the loose fit or" the valve on its pivot without lifting the outlet valve, 27, the lever arm, 26, pivoting on the stop nut, 23 at the upper end of the stem, 23, as permitted by the slight clearance shown at 30 between the stem, 23*, and the guide bearing sleeve, 30 through which the stem extends.

The second expedient for the purpose stated consists in mounting the valve, 27, in the lever arm, 26, by means of its stem, 23 with range of lost motion longitudinally of the stem in the guide bearing sleve, 30, which is exteriorly threaded and screwed through the end portion of the lever arm, the range of lost motion being determined by the adjustment of the stop nut, 23 screwed onto the threaded end portion of the stem, 23 above the sleeve.

At the outlet, d of the control valve device, D, there is connected to said device the vent control device, E. This element consists of a body member, 40, having a longitudinal flow passage, 41, leading to a port, 42, communicating with a transverse flow passage, 43. The port, 42, is encompassed by a valve seat, 44, at the side toward the connection of the device with the outlet, d of the control valve body member, 20, and a valve, 45, arranged for seating at said seat to control flow therethrough, has a stem, 46, extending across the transverse passage, 43, and is afforded guide bearing in the member, 40, as seen at 47; and protruding beyond said guide bearing the stem is secured to the center of a diaphragm, 50, which is clamped at its peripheral margin on the expanded end or head, 40 of the member, 40, by means of a cap member, 48, which at its inner face recessed, forming a chamber, 49, at the outer side of the diaphragm, said cap member having a nipple indicated at 49 by which the connection of the pipe lines, 16 and 18, is made, as indicated at 17.

For holding the valve, 45, normally seated, a light spring, 55, is arranged reacting between the body member, 40, and the disk, 54, by which the valve stem is engaged with the diaphragm. The transverse passage, 43, is connected by a nipple, 51, with the pipe, 14, which is connected, as mentioned, with the valve-controlled outlet, d of the control valve device, D, and which leads to the open head pipe system.

The temperature-responsive device, F, comprises a housing, 70, for a pair of metal bars, 71 and 72, of substantially different cross section both journalled slidingly at one end in a head box, 73, of the housing at that end and near said journalled end secured together rigidly by a cross tie, 74. At the opposite end the heavier bar, 71, is made fast in the head block, 75, of the housing, and the lighter bar extends slidingly through said head block for encounter by a protruding end with a screw, 76, which is set through a short cross arm, 77, of a latch lever, 78, which is pivoted on the head block, 75. A stretched spring, 79, connects the head end of the screw with a stud, 80, projecting from the head block, 75, and which may be, as shown, the reduced end of the bar, 71. This spring operates for holding the inner end of the screw, 76, stressed against the protruding end of the bar, 72, so that the elongation of that bar in excess of elongation of the heavier bar, which will occur upon rapid rise of temperature, operates to trip the latch end of the latch lever, 78, out of engagement with a catch nose, 81, which is carried by a weighted lever, 82, pivoted at its lower end at the lower side of the forward end of the housing, 70.

The lever, 82, being thus released, swings down against the protruding end of the stem, 91, of a flexible diaphragm, 92, which forms part of the wall of a valve chamber, 93, which is interposed in the pipe line, 16, for housing a valve, 90, which is normally held seated against the pressure and flow through the line, 16, by a strut, 94, which is displaced by the thrust of the inner end of the diaphragm stem due to the impact against the outer end of that stem of the released weight, 82, thus permitting the valve to be opened by the water pressure, permitting the flow as described to the vent control device, E.

The operation of the apparatus may be understood from the foregoing description of the construction and installation, but may be further indicated as follows:

The several elements and pipe systems being installed as shown, the shut-off valve, I-I, will be closed, and the valve, 11, being opened, the water under pressure from the source is admitted to the closed head system where it operates with the full pressure derived from the source by reason of the closed heads preventing relief of that pressure for holding the valve, a, of the alarm valve, A, seated.

The operator will next open the valve, H, very slightly to allow the water to enter slowly into the inlet, d of the control valve device, D, and lift the inlet valve from its seat to the extent necessary for admitting the water to the chamber, 21, at the slow rate at which it passes the slightly opened valve, H, which rate it may be understood is not adequate for fire protection such degree of opening of the inlet valve being effected by the water pressure without opening the outlet valve, 27, by reason of the lost motion provided, as above described, between the inlet valve and the outlet valve.

In due time the water entering thus slowly past the slightly opened inlet valve, will enter in the chamber, 21,from which it cannot escape except into the flow passage of the vent control member, E,and in that passage to the valve, 45, before water supply pressure, which, supplemented by the weight of the inlet valve and its lever arm, overcomes the supply pressure, and causes the inlet valve to be seated; and when that valve is seated, the pressure in the chamber operating on the inner side area of the other side exposed to the same pressure by at least the amount of the seating area of the valve, ensures the holding of the inlet valve seated until in some manner the interior pressure is relieved.

The system being thus set up ready for functioning for fire extinguishment upon the occurrence of fire heat in the protected area, upon the opening of any closed head in the closed head system, the resulting relief of pressure in the system, and the pipe line, 12, leading thereto from the alarm valve, A, permitting the opening of the valve, a, of the alarm valve, admits water to the auxiliary discharge, 18, of the alarm valve. The water pressure operating through the line, 18, and the connection, 17, with the vent control device, E, operates for opening the vent control valve, 45, venting the pressure in the chamber, 21, of the control valve device, D, so that the water pressure communicated through the pipe line, 13, past the open shut-off valve, H, opens the inlet valve, 25, and the outlet valve, 27, admitting the water freely to the open head system, and thereby putting that system in full operation for fire extinguishment.

In the event of fire heat either insuflicient for opening a closed head, or at a point in the protected area more nearly in the vicinity of the thermostatic device, F, than the closed heads,

. and sufilcient for putting the thermostatic device in operation, though not sufficient for opening closed heads, the operation of the thermostatic device opening the valve, 90, admitting the pressure from the closed head pipe line, 12, through the lines, 16 and 17, to chamber, 49, of the vent control device, E, causing the opening of the vent control valve, 45, relieving the pressure in the chamber, 21, of the control valve device, D, so that the water pressure through the pipe line, 13, opens the inlet and outlet valves or said control valve device, D, and admits the water freely to the pipe line, 14, leading to the open head system, and thereby puts the open head system in full operation for fire extinguishment, without the opening of a closed head of the closed head system.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising in combination with a main water supply pipe arranged for connection with a source of water under pressure, water delivery means comprising a closed head pipe system extending in an area to be protected having normally closed water discharge head adapted to be opened by fire heat, said system being connected with the main water supply pipe, the latter having a main valve arranged to be held normally seated by the pressure in said closed head system due to the heads being closed, an open head system extending in an area to be protected; a control device consisting or" a chambered valve body having an inlet port and twooutlet ports, and a conduit connected at the inlet port and connected with the water supply pipe subsequent to said main valve; an interiorly arranged valve eating at said inlet port; an interiorly positioned outlet valve seating at one of the outlet ports and operatively associated with the inlet valve for being opened by the opening movement of the latter; means controlling the admission of supply pressure to the chamber of said control device in the setting up or" the system adapted to eiiect such admission without opening the outlet valve; a conduit connected at said valve outlet port leading for flow connection with the open head system; a second conduit connected with the other outlet port leading for ultimate discharge to atmosphere; a valve normally seated for controlling flow through said second conduit, and pressure-responsive valve-actuating means associated with said last mentioned valve for opening it, and a essure-communicating conduit leading from the water delivering means which includes the closed head pipe system to said pressure-responsive means for opening the flow-controlling Valve, a valve device controlling pressure flow through said pressure-communicating conduit, and temperature-responsive means located for exposure to temperature conditions involving fire hazard in the area protected by the open head system, said means arranged for operating said pressurecontrolling valve device for opening upon predetermined temperature conditions affecting said temperature responsive means, whereby upon the opening of the pressure controlling valve, the pressure-responsive means operates for opening the flow controlling valve of the second conduit relieving the pressure in the control device permitting the outlet valve thereof to be opened by the supply pressure for discharge of water to the open system.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, the second conduit being led for discharge in the open head system and thence to atmosphere.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, said the main water supply pipe furnished with a pressure-communicating conduit leading to the pressure-responsive means having a branch arranged for leading to an alarm device.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 having Water controlling valve device of the alarm type comprising a valve body having a main discharge and a subsiduary discharge with valve means arranged to be seated by the pressure in the main discharge line and to be opened by the supply pressure, said subsidiary discharge having a branch connected with the pressure communicating conduit mentioned in claim 1, whereby the pressure-responsive means is operated by the pressure through said subsidiary discharge when the valve controlling the latter is opened.

5. In the construction defined in claim 1, a valve body member having flow passage constituting part of the second conduit, and having a seat for the flow-controlling valve in said conduit, the pressure-responsive valve-actuating means consisting of a diaphragm mounted on said valve body member a cap for the valve body member recessed on its inner side, the valve having a stem by which it is operatively connected with the diaphragm, said cap serving for securing the diaphragm to the body with a sealed joint and forming by its recess a chamber at the outer side of the diaphragm, the pressure-communicating conduit being operatively connected with said chamber.

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising in combination with a main water supply pipe arranged for connection with a source of water. under pressure, an open head water delivery system extended in a protected area a water conduit connected for deriving Water supply from the main water supply pipe; a device controlling flow in said conduit consisting of a chambered valve body member having an inlet port and two outlet ports and connected at the inlet port with the water supply conduit; an interiorly arranged valve seating at the inlet port; an interiorly positoned normally closed outlet valve seating at one of the outlet ports and operatively associated with the inlet valve for opening in the opening movement of the latter; means controlling the admission of the supply pressure to the chamber of said valve device in the setting up of the system adapted to eiTeot such admission without opening the outlet valve, said conduit comprising a conduit member connected at said valved outlet port leading and extending for flow connection with said open head system; a second conduit connected with the other outlet port leading for ultimate discharge to atmosphere; a valve normally seated for controlling flow through said second conduit; pressure-responsive valve-actuating means operatively associated with said last mentioned valve for controlling the seating and unseating thereof, and pressure connections from the water pressure source to said pressure-responsive means, and temperature-responsive means located for exposure to temperature conditions involving fire hazard in the protected area, associated with the water pressure connections for efiecting change in the pressure communicated through said connections to said pressure-responsive means for controlling the actuation of said flow-controlling valve. 1

"I. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising in combination with a main water supply pipe arranged for connection with a source of water under pressure, an open head water delivery system extended in a protected area a water conduit connected for deriving water supply from the water supply pipe; a device controlling fiow in said conduit consisting of a chambered valve body member having an inlet port and two outlet ports and connected at the inlet port with the water supply conduit; an interiorly arranged valve normally seating at the inlet port; an interiorly positioned outlet valve normally seating at one of the outlet ports and operatively connected with the inlet valve for opening in the opening of the latter for inflow at a rate adequate for fire protection; said valves being located with relation to their seats and to the inlet and outlet ports respectively, and associated for movement relatively to each other and their respective seats, for adapting the outlet valve to remain seated during slight opening of the inlet valve due to correspondingly slight admission of supply pressure; said conduit including a conduit member connected at said valved outlet port leading for discharge in the open head pipe system; a second conduit leading from the other outlet port for connection with said conduit member leading to the open head system; a valve normally seated for controlling flow through said second conduit; pressure-responsive valve-actuating means operatively associated with said valve for controlling the seating and unseating thereof; pressurecommunicating connections from the water pressure source to said pressure-responsive means; a valve controlling pressure-communicating flow through said connections, and temperature-responsive means located for exposure to temperature conditions involving fire hazard in the protected area and operatively connected for controlling said valve.

EMIL TYDEN. 

